Every dollar spent on the arts (not counting high-end arts like ballet and opera) ends up being spent many fold by the poor artists - usually in America.

But the banks just give it to CEOs and former execs who then spend it overseas.

Seriously, you should see the multiplier effects.

Except for poets. Since supporting them means they avoid suicide or useful jobs - they have a negative multiplier effect.

Everybody knows that art has never created a single job nor generated any money.

Oh, wait.

Really, both Senators?

For fuck's sake.

Rise up people rise up

That sculpture park is a fucking joke -- if you want support for public funding of the arts, you should find a better example.

Research shows that the arts develop the critical thinking skills that are lacking in those whose education does not include arts. Struggling economies and businesses need people with critical thinking skills to lead us forward. Support the arts. Please write your Senators.

Senator Patty Murray
http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm
Senator Maria Cantwell
http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/

The arts are not fluff. They are essential to a life well-lived. Please support.

Yeah...my two senators are David Vitter, a sex-hating Republican (except of course, when visiting his favorite prostitutes), and Mary Landrieu, who will usually vote however the Democrats vote...though her vote is always up for sale.

Always remember folks - you could have it worse.

Research shows that the arts develop the critical thinking skills that are lacking in those whose education does not include arts. Struggling economies and businesses need people with critical thinking skills to lead us forward. Support the arts. Please write your Senators.

Senator Patty Murray
http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm
Senator Maria Cantwell
http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/

The arts are not fluff. They are essential to a life well-lived. Please support.

My letter:
Dear Congresscritter,

Thank you for voting to remove arts funding from the stimulus package. We all know they're all smot-poking liberals anyhow who will only spend the money on canadian bud and "backpacking" trips to places like France, where they will buy surrender-monkeys. Next up I suggest we remove any funding related to science -- the newest particle accelerator is already in europe, and the europeans are sharing all their cool stuff with us anyhow. I'd suggest allocating as much money as we can to abstinence education (more marriages means more money right here in the U S of A!) and intelligent design.

Thanks,

-Not Represented

Maybe we just need to find the right bit of art - like commissioning Damien Hirst to put George W Bush on display in a tank of formaldehyde.

I've just read Patty and Maria the riot act for the second time in 6 months...they really do need to shape up.

Seriously, can't we fucking get rid of sports instead?

I'm all with the outrage here, but why the question marks after Dianne "Voted For Torture, Whereas Patty and Maria Didn't" Feinstein? She's the godmother of faux-Dem, essentially. Having grown up in California, even as a kid, I always was confused what party she was.

Not trying to diffuse the outrage over Murray or Cantwell, but Feinstein is far worse than either.

Art is great.
Anything the government messes with it screws up.
Government funded art is CRAP.
Free the Arts from government interference.

The arts don't belong in the stimulus bill, but should be included as part of the general budget.

I wonder what would happen if people set fire to the sculpture park in protest?

Or covered it with imaginary flames ... made out of IRS tax forms.